Description: The diagnosis of childhood bipolar disorder is rapidly increasing. In a time when parents are overwhelmed with baffling and often conflicting information, The Childhood Bipolar Disorder Answer Book explains confusing medical lingo and provides straightforward answers to pressing questions. Co-written by a doctor and a mother whose son deals with bipolar disorder, The Childhood Bipolar Answer Book brings readers the parent and medical perspectives. The Childhood Bipolar Answer Book covers such topics as:

How is childhood bipolar disorder different from adult?

What are the earliest symptoms?

How young can these symptoms manifest?

Is childhood bipolar disorder a fad diagnosis?

Written in an easy-to-read Q&A format, The Childhood Bipolar Disorder AnswerBook helps parents understand and accept their child and develop a plan for success.

"Parents first confronted with their children's diagnosis are overwhelmed with questions—almost all freighted with anxiety and fear. Authors Tracy Anglada and Sheryl Hakala, M.D. in their excellent new book, anticipate those questions and supply authoritative and extremely reassuring information that will steady parents and move them forward at this critical time.

But The Childhood Bipolar Disorder Answer Book offers much more, and many sections render it unique in the field. A highlight is the authors' understanding that mothers and fathers must parent these children with great flexibility as the child's course of illness will require varying responses and expectations. In these pages they have constructed a dynamic action plan that outlines levels of a child's stability and provides parents with corresponding “parenting modes” so that they can clearly see what is needed during each mood state. These intelligent instructions and suggestions will help promote a greater degree of stability. Also noteworthy are the action plans that show parents how to care for themselves as they care for their sons and daughters.

We are certain that all parents whose children struggle with bipolar disorder will find this book indispensable."

Demitri F. Papolos, M.D. and Janice Papolos Authors of The Bipolar Child